Vi  a-rTtfi 

,nJ* 


£kztzt}  of 


Mx%.  OTHIIiam  M.  barren 


SKETCH  OF 


Irs.Willia n  f.  Warren 


For  Twenty-Four  Years  Editor  of 
Heathen  Woman’s  Friend. 


i 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

WOMAN’S  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  OF  THE  METHODIST 
EPISCOPAL  CHURCH, 

36  BROM FIELD  STREET,  BOSTON,  MASS. 


“  Sweet  promptings  unto  kindest  deeds 
Were  in  her  very  look; 

We  read  her  face  as  one  who  reads 
A  true  and  holy  book.” 

SUCH  a  life  it  is  difficult  to  describe  with  justice.  To 
those  who  knew  it  best  the  strongest  terms  of  praise  and 
appreciation  seem  inadequate,  while  to  those  but  slightly 
acquainted  therewith  such  expressions  seem  the  height  of 
extravagance.  Moreover  of  such  a  many-sided  life  one 
person  can  see  but  part  clearly,  and  consequently  can 
give  but  a  partial  impression  of  its  fullness.  For  both 
these  reasons  it  has  seemed  best  that  this  sketch  of  Mrs. 
Warren  should  not  be  written  by  one  intimate  companion, 
but  rather  composed  of  the  tender  and  appreciative 
tributes  of  many  loving  .friends;  and  it  is  hoped  that  in 


3 


this  way  all  may  gain  a  more  adequate  conception  of 
her  character. 

Harriet  Cornelia  Merrick,  the  daughter  of  John  M. 
and  Mary  J.  Merrick,  was  born  at  Wilbraham,  Mass., 
Early  Life.  Sept.  1 5,  1 843,  and  died  at  Cam- 

Dr.  Geo.  m.  Steele.  bridge,  Jan.  7,  1 893.  Her  father 

was  a  leading  citizen  of  Wilbraham  and  of  Hampden 
County,  occupying  many  important  public  positions, 
both  civil  and  ecclesiastical.  He  was  for  a  longer 
time  than  any  other  man  a  trustee  of  Wesleyan 
Academy,  and  the  most  active  and  efficient  of  the 
local  members  of  the  board.  The  daughter  was  edu¬ 
cated  at  the  Academy  under  the  principalship  of  Dr. 
Miner  Raymond.  Some  time  before  she  was  eighteen 
she  had  not  only  studied  all  the  branches  embraced  in 
her  own  particular  graduating  course,  but  nearly  every¬ 
thing  except  Greek  in  all  the  courses  pursued  in  the 
institution.  With  a  quick,  bright,  and  at  the  same  time 
singularly  methodical  mind  she  early  evinced  fine 
scholarly  capabilities.  .She  easily  mastered  whatever 
she  attempted,  and  in  many  studies  became  remarkably 
proficient. 

She  was  married,  April  14,  1861,  to  Rev.  William  F. 
Warren,  then  under  appointment  to  the  Missions- Anstalt 
at  Bremen,  Germany,  under  the  direction  of  the  Mis¬ 
sionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


4 


Leaving  school  at  an  age  when  many  young  women  are 
just  entering  upon  serious  courses  of  study,  she  did  not 
abandon  the  work  of  mental  culture,  but  eagerly  availed 
herself  of  the  opportunities  offered  in  her  new  home. 
She  pursued  with  genuine  relish  and  much  success 
advanced  studies  in  history,  literature,  languages,  art  and 
music.  In  the  last  her  acquirements  were  extensive.  She 
was  the  favorite  pupil  of  a  distinguished  master  and 
composer,  and  there  were  few  of  the  noted  operas  or 
oratorios  with  which  she  was  not  familiar.  She  had 
previously  become  an  adept  in  French  and  German. 
To  the  latter  she  soon  added  an  unusual  knowledge  of 
the  dialects.  She  also  took  up  Italian  and  rapidly 
mastered  it.  She  traveled  with  her  husband  in  England, 
France,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Italy,  Austria  Bulgaria, 
Turkey  and  Greece,  gaining  wide  information,  her  powers 
of  comprehension,  observation  and  ready  assimilation 
doing  her  valuable  service. 

What  she  was  to  me  I  cannot  tell.  When  I  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  she  came  to  Germany,  and  from 
the  first  week  until  her  death,  she  was  /„  Germany. 
the  same  kind,  loving  friend.  How  she  Mrs.  Achard. 
will  be  missed  everywhere,  for  she  had  a  heart  so  large  it 
enclosed  so  many  people  and  so  many  places  .  .  . 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Warren  arrived  at  the  Missions- 
haus  in  Bremen,  in  the  year  1S61,  it  was  quite  an  event, 

5 


as  he  was  the  first  American  professor  in  this  school. 
We  were  especially  interested  in  the  lady,  as  our  houses 
were  in  the  same  enclosure,  and  it  could  have  been  very 
unpleasant.  But  from  the  beginning  Mrs.  Warren  "\yon 
every  heart.  It  was  surely  a  great  trial  for  one  so  young, 
not  quite  eighteen  years  old,  to  leave  home  and  many 
friends  and  come  to  a  strange  country,  among  people 
who,  though  kind  and  loving,  were  yet  intellectually  far 
beneath  her.  She,  however,  adapted  herself  wonderfully 
to  her  surroundings. 

Mrs.  Warren  was  dearly  loved  by  the  members  of  the 
church,  and  was  always  called  by  them,  endearingly,  “die 
kleine  Frau  Professor.”  Her  German  was  perfect.  She 
was  never  taken  for  an  American;  for  did  she  not  possess 
all  the  virtues  of  a  German  housewife?  Did  she  not 
dearly  love  to  fill  her  chest  with  fine  linen,  and  take  the 
best  care  of  her  household?  And  then  she  cultivated  her 
flowers,  made  fine  embroideries,  and  last,  but  not  least, 
she  was  such  a  good  knitter,  she  could  not  be  an  American 
lady,  people  said;  they  sit  the  whole  day  in  their  rocking- 
chairs,  letting  others  do  the  work. 

Her  quiet  influence  on  the  students  was  ennobling  and 
inspiring.  Her  intercourse  with  the  family  of  the 
director  of  the  Missionshaus,  Dr.  L.  S.  Jacoby,  was  very 
intimate,  ending  in  a  life-long  friendship.  Dr.  Jacoby 
thought  very  highly  of  “  die  kleine  Frau  Professor,”  as 
he  always  called  her,  and  Mrs.  Jacoby,  who  was  very 
sparing  with  her  praise,  often  said  :  “  She  is  very  young, 

6 


but  though  I  am  an  old  woman,  I  can  learn  much  of 
her.” 

The  time  of  their  sojourning  amongst  us  seemed  so 
short;  gladly  we  would  have  kept  them  always,  but  we 
also  felt  that  with  the  talents  God  had  given  them  they 
needed  a  wider  field  of  work.  Their  influence  has  been 
felt  long  after  they  left  us,  and  there  will  be  many  a  sad 
heart  when  the  news  of  our  bereavement  reaches  them. 

It  was  thus,  though  she  had  gone  from  home  a  mere 
girl,  albeit  more  than  ordinarily  bright  and  intelli¬ 
gent,  she  returned  after  five  years  a  Home  Again. 
ripe,  large-minded  and  thoroughly-  Dr.  G«o.  m.  Steele. 
equipped  woman,  full  of  resources  and  with  such  prac¬ 
tical  judgment  and  tact  as  admirably  fitted  her  for  the 
position  she  was  to  occupy  as  the  wife  of  a  man  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  most  important  educational 
enterprises  in  the  church  and  in  the  country.  But  she 
did  not  restrict  herself  to  a  narrow  range  of  domestic  and 
social  duties,  sacred  as  these  were  in  her  estimation,  and 
performed  as  they  were  with  a  fidelity  rarely  equaled. 
She  entered  with  an  earnest  public  spirit  into  the  religi¬ 
ous  and  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  day.  .  . 

She  was  also  active  in  the  management  of  the  Massa¬ 
chusetts  Society  for  the  University  Education  of  Women; 
a  trustee  of  the  New  England  Conservatory  of  Music;  an 
officer  in  the  Cambridge  Indian  Rights  Association;  a 

7 


committee  worker  for  the  Cambridge  Hospital;  a  mem¬ 
ber  and  officer  of  the  American  Maternal  Association; 
an  interested  supporter  and  member  of  the  board  of 
incorporators  of  the  N.  E.  Deaconess  Home;  while  still 
other  philanthropic  movements  received  her  sympathy 
and  ready  co-operation.  At  the  same  time  she  was 
abundantly  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  local  church. 

When  the  womanhood  of  this  country  became  inter¬ 
ested  in  love  and  labor  for  the  women  of  heathendom, 
Missionary  Labors,  she  entered  with  enthusiasm  into  this 
Mrs.  j.  t.  Gracey.  new  movement,  and  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1869.  From  that 
hour  until  the  memorable  night  when  God  touched  her, 
her  devotion  to  all  the  interests  of  the  Society  never  for 
a  moment  ceased.  No  clearer  intellect,  no  greater  versa¬ 
tility  of  talent,  no  more  devoted  service  ever  touched 
the  wofk. 

Official  burdens  were  laid  upon  her  from  the  very 
beginning.  She  was  the  first  recording  secretary  of  the 
new  organization,  and  the  first  corresponding  secretary 
of  the  New  England  Branch.  * 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Society,  Dr.  Durbin 
and  Dr.  Harris  met  with  some  of  the  ladies  in  Bromfield 
Street  Church  to  consult  upon  certain  matters  that 
seemed  vital  to  the  permanency  of  the  work.  It  was  at 

8 


this  time  that  the  establishment  of  a  paper  as  a  medium 
of  communication  between  the  home  and  foreign  workers 
was  discussed.  As  there  was  great  risk  in  such  an  under¬ 
taking  and  no  capital,  some  discouraged  it.  The  deci¬ 
sion,  however,  was  reached  that  a  paper  was  a  necessity, 
and  a  few  of  the  ladies  present  became  responsible  for 
the  necessary  funds  with  which  to  start  the  new  enter¬ 
prise.  A  committee  of  three,  of  which  Mrs.  Warren  was 
a  member,  was  appointed  to  arrange  for  its  publication. 
Then  came  the  difficult  matter  of  selecting  an  editor. 
Where  could  the  person  be  found  adapted  to  this  work  ? 
Where  was  the  woman  with  the  intellectual  ability, 
literary  taste,  and  clear  judgment  that  could  launch  a 
new  enterprise  such  as  this  and  do  it  successfully  ? 
Instinctively  attention  was  directed  to  Mrs.  Warren,  and 
Mrs.  Dr.  Butler  and  Mrs.  E.  W.  Parker  were  appointed 
to  wait  on  her,  and  urge  the  acceptance  of  the  position. 
Distrustful  of  her  ability  and  modest  to  an  extreme,  after 
much  persuasion  she  reluctantly  consented.  She  was 
then  only  twenty-five  years  old.  At  that  time  papers  and 
magazines  conducted  by  women  were  something  of  a 
novelty,  the  field  new  and  untried.  With  her  character¬ 
istic  energy  she  immediately  went  to  work,  and  the  first 
issue  of  the  paper,  starting  modestly  with  eight  pages, 
appeared  in  June,  1869.  What  was  the  result  of  this  new 
venture  of  publishing  a  paper  in  the  interests  of  heathen 
women  ?  At  the  close  of  the  first  year  its  subscription 
list  had  reached  four  thousand,  and  paid  all  its  running 


9 


expenses,  as  well  as  the  debt  incurred  for  its  establish¬ 
ment.  From  that  time  it  was  an  assured  success.  Mrs. 
Warren’s  editorial  ability  was  soon  recognized,  and  the 
paper  took  rank  as  one  of  the  model  missionary  periodi¬ 
cals  of  the  world.  From  all  quarters,  especially  from  the 
church  press,  came  appreciative  words  concerning  the 
paper  and  its  wise  management.  It  has  been  enlarged 
from  eight  pages  to  twenty-four,  and  its  subscription  list 
increased  until  it  now  reaches  21,500.  It  has  kept  the 
thread  of  the  history  of  the  entire  mission  work  abroad, 
as  well  as  the  detail  of  the  work  at  home.  It  has  paid  all 
its  expenses,  and  from  its  funds  many  thousands  of 
dollars  have  been  appropriated  to  publishing  other  mis¬ 
sionary  literature.  We  do  not  know  that  any  mis¬ 
sionary  magazine  ever  published  in  any  country  has 
had  such  a  financial  record  as  the  Heathen  Woman's 
Friend. 

Who  can  estimate  the  influence  of  such  a  paper  ?  No 
agency  has  done  for  the  Society  what  this  paper  has. 
How  it  has  helped  in  developing  interest,  how  her  words, 
of  cheer  have  animated  disheartened  workers !  She,  its 
only  editor,  lives  and  will  live  in  the  hearts  of  the  readers 
of  its  pages,  and  she  will  speak  through  it  far  on  in  the 
future.  The  editor  and  the  paper  seemed  indissolubly 
identified.  “  Mrs.  Warren  gone,  and  the  paper  still  go 
on  ;  can  it  be  possible  ?  ”  So  writes  a  friend. 

When  the  Society  established  a  paper  for  its  German 
constituency,  familiarity  with  their  language  fitted  her  to 


IO 


become  the  editor  of  that  paper  also;  a  relation  which 
she  sustained  until  it  was  firmly  established. 

She  saw  the  great  need  of  early  instruction  for  children 
on  the  subject  of  missions,  and  frequently  urged  the 
necessity  for  a  child’s  paper;  and  to  her  suggestion, 
possibly  more  than  to  that  of  anyone  else,  is  the  Society 
indebted  for  the  Heathen  Children's  Friend,  which  was 
established  only  four  years  ago,  and  has  now  a  subscrip¬ 
tion  list  of  thirteen  thousand. 

But  her  interest  was  not  confined  to  the  family  of 
papers.  From  the  organization  of  the  Literature  Com¬ 
mittee  she  was  a  member,  bringing  to  its  counsels  the 
most  admirable  literary  ability,  practical  suggestions,  and 
efficient  aid. 

She  was  always  the  choice  of  the  General  Executive 
Committee  as  the  president  of  its  sessions  whenever  it 
was  in  her  power  to  render  this  service.  As  a  presiding 
officer  she  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  parliamentary 
forms,  clear-headed,  dignified,  modest,  always  courteous, 
never  losing  sight  of  the  point  at  issue,  prompt  and 
impartial  in  all  her  rulings.  She  rendered  this  service  at 
eight  sessions  of  the  Committee,  and  never  with  greater 
acceptability  than  at  the  last  meeting  in  Springfield. 

What  a  multiplicity  of  interests  she  carried;  and  yet 
she  found  time  for  personal  improvement,  and  kept  up 
well  with  the  literature  of  the  day. 

During  these  years  she  was  president  of  the  New  Eng¬ 
land  Branch,  leading  and  inspiring  the  workers,  and  was 


an  ever-present  help  in  the  local  auxiliary  society  of  her 
church.  .  . 

.She  conducted  a  most  voluminous  correspondence, 
which  in  point  and  brilliancy  is  seldom  equaled,  and  per¬ 
haps  never  excelled.  The  workers  at  home,  the  mis¬ 
sionaries  abroad,  and  friends  far  and  near  will  miss  her 
bright  and  inspiring  words. 

With  all  these- public  cares  and  offices  she  was  the 
centre  and  source  of  the  beautifu  order  and  the  name- 
Her  Character.  less  charm  that  characterized  her 
Dr.  Geo.  m.  Steele.  home.  In  the  management  of  her 
domestic  affairs  and  the  education  of  her  children 
there  was  the  neat  and  accurate  working  of  a  methodi¬ 
cal  mind,  not  of  the  dry  and  mechanical  type,  but 
indicating  even  more  than  the  same  conscientiousness 
which  she  brought  to  her  public  work;  and  there  was 
something  incalculably  better  than  this  —  a  vigorous  yet 
gentle  spirit  informing,  inspiring  and  fashioning  the 
character  of  all  the  members  of  the  family  group. 

Mrs.  Warren  had  so  symmetrical  a  character,  and  its 
elements  were  so  harmoniously  blended  and  proportioned, 
that  her  chief  excellences  were  less  conspicuous  than  in 
most  minds,  illustrating  that  culture  which  is  said  to  be 
“the  grace  of  perfect  breeding,  everywhere  pervasive,  and 
nowhere  emphatic.”  Yet  none  who  knew  her  well 
failed  to  note  her  overflowing  cheerfulness,  her  vivacity, 


her  good  sense,  broad  intelligence  and  versatility,  and 
her  unremitting  and  generous  kindness.  If  ever  it  could 
be  said  of  any  one  with  an  approximation  to  truthfulness, 
it  might  be  said  of  her :  — 

“  A  perfect  woman,  nobly  planned.” 

Of  her  piety  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  it  belonged 
to  her  whole  character,  and  was  not  something  cultivated 
apart.  It  was  the  central  and  active  principle  of  her  life. 
She  had  early  given  herself  to  God,  and  His  service  be¬ 
came  with  her  thenceforth  a  governing  purpose,  a  silent 
passion,  gentle  yet  of  wondrous  strength.  Mrs.  Warren 
might  well  have  sat  for  the  portrait  of  “the  excellent 
woman  ”  in  the  last  chapter  of  Proverbs. 

Mrs.  Warren  had  not  been  in  her  usual  health  for 
some  time,  and  had  been  compelled  to  relinquish  part  of 
her  work;  to  let  go  from  her  busy  The  Last  Days. 
hands  some  of  the  many  threads  Mrs.  J.  T.  Gracey. 
of  her  weaving,  but  not  even  her  intimate  friends 
apprehended  that  she  was  so  near  the  border  land. 
On  the  Tuesday  previous  to  her  death,  although  quite 
weak,  she  was  able  to  receive  some  friends  who  called, 
and  on  the  following  Thursday  remarked  that  she  was 
feeling  better  than  for  some  time.  That  day  she  was  busy 
with  her  writing,  penning  all  unobserved  that  memorable 
editorial,  “The  Bugle  Call,”  while  the  evening  was  de- 


*3 


voted  to  letter  writing.  She  was  as  cheery  and  bright 
as  usual.  Soon  after  retiring  she  was  taken  alarmingly  ill, 
and  it  became  evident  she  could  not  rally.  Friday  morn¬ 
ing  she  sank  into  a  state  of  unconsciousness,  and  so  re¬ 
mained  until  Saturday  morning,  January  7,  when  “she 
was  not,  for  God  took  her.”  He  gave  his  beloved  sleep, 
and  then  translated  her.  Suddenly  from  the  delights  of 
her  earthly  home  and  the  blessed  activities  of  life,  she 
ascended  to  her  heavenly  home  and  the  activities  of  the 
life  beyond. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  January  10,  the  funeral  ser¬ 
vices  were  held  at  her  residence  in  Cambridgeport.  It 
was  a  bright,  beautiful  winter  day.  The  mantle  of  snow 
which  wrapped  the  earth,  sparkled  in  the  sunlight  as  if  to 
speak  to  bereaved  hearts  of  joy  and  gladness,  instead  of 
sorrow;  of  victory  and  triumph,  rather  than  defeat  or 
death.  There  was  a  representative  attendance  of  friends 
from  the  Harvard  .Street  Church,  of  which  she  was  a 
member;  from  the  Boston  University,  from  the  Woman’s 
Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  from  a  large  circle  of 
friends.  The  services  were  confined  to  our  Methodist 
Episcopal  ritual,  conducted  by  her  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  C.  S. 
Rogers,  and  Dean  Huntington,  of  the  University  Faculty. 

A  quartette  sang  two  of  her  favorite  hymns,  “Abide 
with  me,  fast  falls  the  eventide,”  “  In  heavenly  love  abid¬ 
ing,  No  change  my  heart  shall  fear.”  Beautiful  hymns  ! 
We  shall  never  hear  them  sung  again  without  thinking 
of  her. 


*4 


“We  all  loved  her  so!  How  can  we  give  her  up?” 
was  the  anguished  cry  that  went  up  from  a  multitude 
of  sorrowing  hearts  when  the  startling  Sidelights. 
news  came  that  our  Mrs.  Warren  had  Miss  Seauerns. 

“  entered  into  life  eternal.”  It  seems  so  short  a  time 
since  I  saw  her  in  the  office  of  the  Heathen  Woman's 
Friend  chatting  with  Miss  Walden  in  her  usual  animated, 
breezy  fashion,  and  turning  to  greet  me  with  fascinating 
smile  and  cheery  word,  her  eyes  sparkling  with  fun,  her 
cheeks  flushed  with  rosy  color,  her  bright  hair  waving 
back  prettily  from  the  broad  brow.  I  shall  always  love 
to  think  of  her  as  she  looked  then  .  .  . 

The  inspiring  life  of  this  lovely  Christian  woman, 
though  thus  early  ended,  will  forever  be  potent  for  good, 
and  is  worthy  of  closest  imitation.  Though  an  indefatiga¬ 
ble  worker  in  the  Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society — 
president  of  the  New  England  Branch  for  years,  and 
editor  of  the  Heathen  Woman's  Friend  since  its  incep¬ 
tion  —  she  yet  shone  pre-eminently  in  her  home,  her 
kingdom.  Home,  with  her,  always  occupied  the  first 
place,  was  of  paramount  importance.  She  was  no  Mrs. 
Jellaby.  Her  work  for  and  interest  in  missions  never 
wavered,  and  hundreds  in  heathen  lands  will  bless  her 
name;  but  in  the  hearts  of  her  husband  and  children  she 
is  enshrined  as  a  peerless  wife  and  mother.  A  noble,  con¬ 
secrated,  symmetrical  life  was  that  of  Harriet  Warren — ■ 
a  life  to  be  coveted  by  us  all.  Well  does  Clara  Cushman 
urge  that  neither  costly  marble  nor  bronze  be  raised  above 


her  precious  dust,  hut  that  a  memorial  of  her  find  visible 
shape  in  some  pagan  land  as  a  hospital,  a  home,  a  school, 
bearing  her  name. 

I  was  a  Harvard  student  when  I  became  acquainted 
with  Mrs.  Warren.  I  attended  the  Harvard  St.  Methodist 
By  Episcopal  Church  in  Cambridge, 

Mr.  r.  b.  Wilcox.  where  Dr.  Warren’s  family  wor¬ 
shiped.  On  learning  of  my  Methodist  antecedents 
from  a  friend  of  mine  who  was  then  in  the  Boston 
University  School  of  Theology,  Mrs.  Warren  introduced 
herself  to  me.  We  were  members  of  the  same  Bible  class 
and  soon  became  well  acquainted.  She  was  a  most 
charming  woman,  and  a  delightful  hostess.  If  there  was 
a  gathering  of  young  people  at  her  home,  she  made  them 
all  feel  at  ease,  took  special  pains  to  interest  the  back¬ 
ward  ones,  and  was  the  brightest  and  most  vivacious 
person  in  the  company. 

But  it  was  when  she  was  alone  that  I  most  enjoyed 
seeing  her.  When  tired  and  homesick,  I  used  to  call  on 
her,  and  would  get  strength  and  spirit  for  a  month’s  work. 
She  was  a  thoroughly  educated,  splendidly  cultured  woman, 
and  so  pleasant  and  winsome  that  to  know  her  was  to 
love  her.  In  all  the  womanly  graces  of  head  and  heart 
she  was  among  the  very  best  queens  of  our  homes.  When 
one  was  despondent,  gloomy,  and  half-sick,  an  hour’s  talk 
with  her  was  as  good  a  tonic  as  a  visit  to  the  mountains, 

16 


a  trip  to  the  seashore,  or  a  run  over  the  limitless  prairies. 
Take  into  your  thought  all  the  helpful,  restful  influences 
of  nature,  add  a  large  measure  of  the  calm  peace  that 
comes  only  from  loving  human  sympathy,  and  you  will 
have  an  inadequate  idea  of  what  Mrs.  Warren  was  to  her 
friends  in  dispelling  their  gloom. 

It  is  not  alone  the  heavier  pressure  of  iilness  that  stays 
my  pen;  but  the  fact  that  the  dark  veil  has  fallen  be¬ 
tween  me  and  one  whose  personality  By 

was  an  ideal  to  me  of  perfect  woman-  Mrs.  F.  b.  Harris. 
hood.  Mrs.  Warren  was  my  friend .  That  says  it  all. 
Perhaps  she  was  the  same  bright,  exhilarating  influence 
with  all  other  missionaries ;  perhaps  she  understood 
all  their  humors,  good  and  ill,  as  well  as  she  did 
mine;  but  she  has  seemed  to  be  my  particular  mental 
tonic  for  years.  Because  I  was  not  “  sent  out  ”  by  the 
Woman’s  Foreign  Missionary  Society  made  no  difference. 
We  “  belonged  ”  to  each  other.  There  is  a  great  blank 
place  somewhere  in  the  world;  it  has  opened  for  us  all, 
but  I  dare  not  even  think  of  the  shadowy  emptiness  into 
which  the  eyes  of  the  bereaved  household  are  looking. 

In  losing  her,  our  Deaconess  Home  loses  one  of  its 
most  devoted  friends  and  our  Board  one  of  its  wisest  coun¬ 
sellors.  Not  only  had  Mrs.  Warren  By 

identified  herself  with  the  interests  Mrs.  o.  a.  Curtis. 


1 7 


of  the  New  England  Home,  but  her  deep  concern 
and  personal  attention  was  given  to  the  Deaconess 
movement  throughout  our  Church  and  the  world. 
She  had  been  a  manager  of  our  home  from  the  begin¬ 
ning.  And  until  the  time  of  her  death,  as  a  member  of 
the  Committee  on  Instruction,  was  doing  much  to  stimu¬ 
late  and  advance  the  work  of  the  Training  School.  It  is 
only  a  few  days  since  she  referred  to  a  new  effort  just  be¬ 
gun  for  the  benefit  of  the  Home,  and  expressed  her  wish 
to  have  a  share  in  it.  In  our  deep  sorrow  we  rejoice  that 
we  may  keep  forever  with  us  the  precious  memory  of  her 
character  and  life  among  us. 

I  knew  Mrs.  Warren  in  childhood,  and  retain  the  pic¬ 
ture  of  a  bright,  intelligent  child,  giving  promise  of  what 
By  has  since  been  a  generous  fulfilment. 

Mrs.  s.  j.  Steele.  After  an  absence  of  some  years  I 
came  into  relations  with  her  in  missionary  work,  and 
was  impressed  with  her  breadth  of  judgment  and 
the  all-aroundness  of  her  character.  She  was  a  model 
mother,  and  though  her  special  and  elective  work  was  in 
missionary  lines,  she  was  intelligently  interested  in  all 
phases  of  life  and  society.  How  much  we  relied  on  her 
judgment !  How  safe  we  felt  when  she  was  chairman  of 
some  special  committee  !  How  content  when  she  guided 
as  presiding  officer !  Perhaps  her  prominent  character¬ 
istic  was  hopefulness.  Who  can  tell  to-day  what  we  owe 

iS 


as  a  society  to  this  one  element  that,  infused  in  other 
souls,  led  on  to  work  which  hut  for  her  courage  would 
never  have  been  attempted. 

Under  a  sense  of  great  personal  bereavement  for  my 
friend  of  many  years,  and  of  apparent  untold  loss  to 
our  work,  do  I  pen  a  few  words  as  a  By 

worker  and  missionary,  in  loving  appre-  Mr Dr-  Baldwin. 
ciation  of  her  who  so  long  was  a  leader  of  friends 
of  heathen  women.  All  of  the  home  workers  deeply 
realize  how  much  of  helpfulness,  strength,  and  wise 
counsel  will  be  missed  in  the  translation  of  our  be¬ 
loved  sister.  As  one  of  these  home  workers  now,  the 
electric  message  conveying  the  sad  tidings  to  us  tilled  me 
with  amazement.  As  I  sat  dumb  before  this  sudden  grief 
for  my  dear  friend  of  twenty-three  years,  in  dismay  for 
the  work  she  had  so  admirably,  patiently,  quietly  carried 
these  many  years,  in  deepest  sympathy  for  the  dear  ones 
in  the  home  of  which  she  was  the  joy  and  light,  I  had  to 
hold  on  fast  to  the  blessed  assurance  that  our  Father  “  is 
too  wise  to  err,  too  good  to  be  unkind”;  therefore  this 
must  be  right.  Then  came  back  to  me  the  long  years 
spent  in  a  heathen  land,  —  the  days  of  missionary  life,, 
when  sturdy  faith  and  a  strong  hold  on  God  alone  bring 
victory;  and  I  recalled  how  for  many  years  her  letters, 
not  merely  official,  came  to  me,  a  joy  and  help,  always 
breezy  like  fresh,  pure  air,  bright  and  sparkling  with  wit 


19 


and  humor,  driving  away  clouds  like  the  sunshine, 
thoughtful  and  earnest  for  our  work  and  workers,  wise 
and  helpful  to  the  last  degree.  She  was  the  true,  earnest, 
wise  friend  of  all  our  missionaries.  She  appreciated  the 
work  of  each,  and  knew  them  by  name,  rejoiced  in  their 
successes,  and  was  afflicted  in  their  griefs.  She  was  our 
comrade  at  home  and  abroad. 


I  have  so  much  work  that  at  times  I  sit  down  and 
know  not  what  to  do  first  .  .  .  But  then  I  think,  God 
From  a  private  letter  by  has  given  me  but  one  life¬ 
time  in  which  to  serve  Him, 
and  I  may  not  refuse  to  be  as 


Mrs.  Warren, 
dated  April,  1869. 

useful  as  I  can.  t 


....  This  adds,  of  course,  considerably  to  my  work, 
but  if  I  can  accomplish  good  in  this  way,  I  am  glad  to 
From  a  private  letter,  do  it  SO  long  US  I  am  able.  .  . 

dated  August,  1869.  My  heart  is  warmly  enlisted, 

for  I  have  long  and  deeply  felt  the  need  of  more  interest 
and  activity  in  the  cause  of  missions  on  the  part  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  ...  I  don’t  know  that  I  could  endure 
now  a  life  of  comparative  leisure  where  my  employment 
or  entertainment  should  be  merely  optional  and  voluntary. 
I  often  feel  more  grateful  than  I  can  express  to  the  good 
Lord  who  has  so  well  planned  my  life  for  me,  and  given 
me,  together  with  plenty  of  work,  continual  happiness  to 


20 


make  it  easy.  I  am  satisfied  to  leave  my  plans  for  Him 
to  make.  That  does  not  mean,  however,  that  I  am  not 
human,  and  never  make  plans  of  my  own;  by  no  means. 
I  am  as  fond  of  it  as  any  one,  but  I  have  seen  so  many 
times  how  much  more  successful  God  could  be  in  arranging 
my  matters  to  my  satisfaction  than  I,  that  when  I  find  my 
plans  are  not  to  stand,  I  can  readily  give  them  up,  con¬ 
fident  they  are  only  to  be  improved.  It  is  really  wonder¬ 
ful,  the  kind  ways  which  God  has  taken  to  show  me  that 
the  safest  way  is  to  wait  for  Him;  to  be  patient,  and 
allow  matters  which  are  beyond  control  to  be  taken  care 
of  by  some  higher  reason  and  judgment  than  my  own.” 

Theoretically,  it  should  not  be  a  hard  thing  to  hold  evil 
in  subjection;  for  the  Lord  is  on  the  side  of  all  who 
strive  for  him.  In  truth,  how- 

.  ,  From  Last  Editorial. 

ever,  it  must  be  confessed  that 

the  enemy  has  gained  immense  advantage.  While 
Christians  have  rested  and  slept,  his  forces  have  been 
tireless  and  vigilant,  and  the  contest  has  become  appar¬ 
ently  unequal.  Yet  not  so,  if  Christians  will  but  put  on 
the  whole  armor  of  God  and  use  all  the  weapons  he  has 
made  ready  for  them.  The  mention  of  this  outfit  brings 
to  mind  at  once  St.  Paul’s  wonderful  list,  —  truth,  right¬ 
eousness,  peace,  faith,  salvation,  God’s  word,  prayer,  sup¬ 
plication,  —  impenetrable  armor,  irresistible  weapons, 
when  worn  and  wielded  in  the  strength  of  God’s  might. 


But  who  have  proved  this  true?  “Christ,  our  royal 
master”;  after  him  his  devoted  disciples,  the  holy  apostles, 
the  Church  founders  and  fosterers,  the  saintly  warriors  of 
history,  —  an  innumerable  company,  whose  lives  cannot 
be  read  by  honest  men  without  arousing  all  that  is  noblest 
and  best  in  them.  The  records  of  brave  deeds  from  lofty 
motives,  of  holy  lives  spent  for  Christ’s  sake,  are  a  stronger 
factor  in  Christian  progress  than  is  ordinarily  realized. 


22 


t 


. 


